Ok ... so, all I want is to be able to plan routes on my pc, load them into my Zumo 660, stick it on my motorcycle and enjoy the road. I'm new to the Garmin world and have been workin on planning my first trip in BaseCamp for days ... Ughhh ... (did i mention that i have a degree in Computer Science?) .. this thing is frustrating me, making me feel stupid and I'm beginning to think that Garmin is like McAfee .. Do I need to be a Genius to make this thing work? Is it really full of glitches or am I missing the secret code? I've tried to call support (I'll PAY!!) - does anyone really work at Garmin? Ughhh ... I'm unwinding my 2012 technology mentality back to 1990 and figuring out that BaseCamp and the Zumo 660 really aren't friendly toward one another ... Just how do these algorythms work in the Zumo when they recalculate the "route" I created in BaseCamp? Sometimes they show up in my "Custom Routes" and sometimes I have to "Import" them ... and the one route that WILL NOT show up in Custom Routes ends up with 100 more miles on it after I import it ... but the route looks the same when I preview it... Ughhh ... my iPhone maps are much more intuitive .. but that's not what I bought the Garmin for ... HELP!! I'm LOST!!!!!:confused:
This is something that has bothered me about Garmin GPSes for a long time, it doesn't make sense to make a detailed planned route in Mapsource or Basecamp, download it to your GPS and then when you activate the route in the GPS re calculates it and messes it up. Why cant there be a setting on the GPS to use the route as downloaded?
This is the way it used to be. Garmin started the change with the Zumo and has never looked back. They have made changes to the Zumo 660 firmware to allow imported routes to be used without a recalculation, and the new Montana is on the way there, may be there already, but out of the gate they both recalculated everything. This is the main reason I've never upgraded from my ancient chartplotters. The accepted method of using a waypoint to force a route at every point the GPS has a choice is just an in-elegant workaround.
This is the way it used to be. Garmin started the change with the Zumo and has never looked back. They have made changes to the Zumo 660 firmware to allow imported routes to be used without a recalculation, and the new Montana is on the way there, may be there already, but out of the gate they both recalculated everything. This is the main reason I've never upgraded from my ancient chartplotters. The accepted method of using a waypoint to force a route at every point the GPS has a choice is just an in-elegant workaround.
I believe the newest firmware for the Montana and the Oregons 450 and higher will now take routes without recalculation.
I believe the newest firmware for the Montana and the Oregons 450 and higher will now take routes without recalculation.
I believe you're right FALAGAR. It just frustrates many long term Garmin customers, that something so obvious and important to us has to be lobbied for.
I believe you're right FALAGAR. It just frustrates many long term Garmin customers, that something so obvious and important to us has to be lobbied for.
We (the Desktop Applications Group) are lobbying for it as well. :)
We (the Desktop Applications Group) are lobbying for it as well. :)
What can we, as users, do to help your cause?
My eTrex does it (follows route without recalc, or at least well enough).
My Nuvi2595LMT is too new to me, so I am not sure whether it does it or not.....
But in any case, all devices SHOULD have the option of "'playback' this route as imported". Why?
User Interface: Keyboard, big display, mouse are better for complext tasks than a little screen with some buttons.
Software: Basecamp, Mapsource and other 3rd-party route-planning software is far more capable than any on-board device software. Plus, you can choose the software that is best for you and your purposes.
Access to other tools & info: While planning your routes on your PC, you can send/receive emails, IMs, even remote desktop share with other people to collaborate on a route if you wish. You can browse sites on the web to get information about destinations, etc etc. You can create and manage different versions of the "same" route, or you can call up routes archived long ago from trips you took with a GPS device that has long since been replaced (maybe several times over).
P.S. Many MS Streets & Trips users are also frustrated with this behaviour of Garmin's personal navigation devices.
Streets & Trips has long been superior to Garmin's desktop programs for complex multi-day trip planning. Many users prefer to use it for trip planning then load the resulting route(s) to a Garmin device for travel rather than try to use a laptop running Streets & Trips for navigation ... finding a place to mount a laptop is a problem in many vehicles and Streets & Trips is a really horrid navigation program.
I have also seen similar complaints from folks who like to use Google Earth, Mapquest, etc. to do their trip planning but wish to use Garmin nav devices for travel.
So the problem is far more widespread than just Garmin desktop program users and Zumo owners.
I have the Montana 650 - how do i turn on this feature?
You don't need to "turn it on". Just plan your route in basecamp and send it to your Montana. BUT you must use the SAME version of the map on both Basecamp and the Montana for this to work properly.
On the Montana you will find a recalculation navigation setting as well with these choices.
These options will determine what happens if you deviate from the route while navigating.
